Yahoo! News: World News

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• Kurds push to drive militants from Mosul Dam with U.S. air support
• Ukraine says its troops make breakthrough in rebel stronghold
• U.N. nuclear chief upbeat after 'useful' Iran visit
• No response to calls for ceasefire in Libyan capital
• Pakistan opposition leader calls for tax boycott in anti-government protest
• UK report into Muslim Brotherhood delayed: Financial Times
• Wife convinced Cook to stay on as England skipper
• Inbee Park wins LPGA Championship
• Champion Cruzeiro regains Brazilian league lead
• Mexico: River spill to keep 88 schools closed
• Israeli wedding of Jew, Muslim draws protesters amid war tensions
• Chilean military chief who followed Pinochet dies
• Yang beats Conners in final of US Amateur
• New US strikes in Iraq include land-based bombers
• Germany's Steinmeier says leaders may agree to continue Ukraine crisis talks
• Ukraine says troops entered rebel-held city
• 'Turtles' outmuscle Stallone, Schwarzenegger at box office
• White House: Obama authorized U.S. strikes on Mosul Dam in Iraq
• Mao's archenemy Chiang Kai-shek part of mainstream
• Bordeaux beats Monaco 4-1 in French league
• Fresh violence in riot-hit US town, new autopsy ordered
• Clashes between Madagascar police, cattle rustlers kill 15
• Women bearing aid desperate to enter Ukraine as thousands flee
• Leading Scottish historian backs independence campaign
• Bayern gets German Cup defense off to good start
• Israel warns on security as Gaza truce talks resume
• Mexican billionaire offers advice for Latinos
• Infected Ebola patients flee after attack on Liberia clinic
• 13 children among Afghan Sikhs found in UK shipping container
• 5 things about the Champions League playoffs
• Rebels caught in north Syria two-pronged onslaught

Kurds push to drive militants from Mosul Dam with U.S. air support Posted: 17 Aug 2014 01:06 PM PDT By Humeyra Pamuk DOHUK Iraq (Reuters) - Kurdish fighters pushed to retake Iraq's largest dam on Sunday in an attempt to reverse gains by Islamic State insurgents who have overrun much of the country's north, officials said. Islamic State militants have seized several towns and oilfields as well as Mosul Dam in recent weeks, possibly giving them the ability to flood cities or cut off water and electricity supplies. Asked about a Kurdish push to dislodge the militants on Sunday, a Kurdish official said they had not retaken the dam itself but had seized "most of the surrounding area". Islamic State militants have told residents in the area to leave, according to an engineer who works at the site.

Ukraine says its troops make breakthrough in rebel stronghold Posted: 17 Aug 2014 10:47 AM PDT By Natalia Zinets and Thomas Grove KIEV/DONETSK Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukrainian forces have raised their national flag over a police station in the city of Luhansk which was for months under rebel control, Kiev said on Sunday, in what could be a breakthrough in Ukraine's efforts to crush pro-Moscow separatists. Ukrainian officials said however the rebels were fighting a desperate rearguard action to hold on to Luhansk - which is their supply route into neighbouring Russia - and that the flow of weapons and fighters from Russia had accelerated. The foreign ministers of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany were meeting in Berlin and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said talks would focus on how to achieve a ceasefire and prevent weapons and fighters crossing into eastern Ukraine.

U.N. nuclear chief upbeat after 'useful' Iran visit Posted: 17 Aug 2014 08:55 AM PDT By Fredrik Dahl and Mehrdad Balali VIENNA/DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran has given a firm commitment to cooperate with a U.N. nuclear watchdog investigation into suspected atomic bomb research, the head of the agency said after what he described as a "useful" visit to Tehran on Sunday. Yukiya Amano made the trip ahead of an Aug. 25 deadline for Iran to provide information relevant to the International Atomic Energy Agency's long-running inquiry into what it calls the possible military dimensions of the country's nuclear programme. The issue is closely tied to Iran's negotiations with six world powers aimed at ending a decade-old standoff over its atomic activities and dispelling fears of a new Middle East war. Iran denies its programme has any military objectives.

No response to calls for ceasefire in Libyan capital Posted: 17 Aug 2014 11:54 AM PDT By Heba al-Shibani TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libyan factions traded gunfire and shells in various parts of Tripoli on Sunday, ignoring international appeals for a ceasefire to end more than a month of fighting. The struggle in the capital is part of worsening chaos in the North African country where rebels who helped to topple Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 now vie for power and a share of Libya's oil wealth. The battles have forced the United Nations and Western governments to evacuate their diplomats, fearing Libya is sliding into civil war. The U.N. Mission in Libya said in a statement that it "deeply regrets that there was no response to the repeated international appeals and its own efforts for an immediate ceasefire." "The Mission warns that the continued fighting poses a serious threat to Libya's political process, and to the security and stability of the country," the U.N. said.

Pakistan opposition leader calls for tax boycott in anti-government protest Posted: 17 Aug 2014 11:31 AM PDT By Syed Raza Hassan ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Leading opposition politician Imran Khan urged Pakistanis on Sunday not to pay taxes or utility bills as a protest against the government and vowed to force the country's "corrupt" prime minister to step down this week. Both men say they will stay in the streets until Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, whom they condemn as corrupt, resigns. Anti-Western militant groups have been growing in strength, worrying Pakistan's allies. "We will go for civil disobedience and will not pay taxes or utility bills till the time Nawaz Sharif resigns," he said.

UK report into Muslim Brotherhood delayed: Financial Times Posted: 17 Aug 2014 12:22 PM PDT (Reuters) - A British government report on Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood has been delayed as ministers and officials disagree over its findings, the Financial Times reported on Sunday, citing official sources. The newspaper said Prime Minister David Cameron, under pressure from allies in the Gulf, had asked Britain's ambassador to Saudi Arabia to conduct an investigation into whether the Muslim Brotherhood should be classified as a terrorist organization. Citing official sources, the newspaper said that the report had found the political group should not be labeled a terrorist organization and had found little evidence that its members are involved in terrorist activities. The Muslim Brotherhood, once Egypt's oldest, best organized and most successful political movement, has seen hundreds of its members killed and thousands detained since then-army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi overthrew elected president and Brotherhood member Mohamed Mursi 13 months ago, following weeks of protest.

Wife convinced Cook to stay on as England skipper Posted: 17 Aug 2014 04:54 PM PDT Alastair Cook said support from his wife, Alice, had persuaded him to stay on as England captain after leading the side to a come-from-behind Test series win over India. After last month's 95-run defeat by India in the second Test at Lord's, a result that meant England had gone 10 Tests without a win, Cook faced calls from several former England captains to stand down as skipper. It was a decision vindicated by England ultimately defeating India 3-1 in a five-Test series, a win completed with a crushing innings and 244-run victory at The Oval on Sunday. "It was the support I had from my wife," said Cook, when asked what had persuaded him against resigning as England captain.

Inbee Park wins LPGA Championship Posted: 17 Aug 2014 04:54 PM PDT PITTSFORD, New York (AP) — Inbee Park successfully defended her LPGA Championship title by beating Brittany Lincicome with a par on the first hole of a playoff Sunday.

Champion Cruzeiro regains Brazilian league lead Posted: 17 Aug 2014 04:47 PM PDT SAO PAULO (AP) — Bolivian striker Marcelo Moreno scored a first-half goal to help defending champion Cruzeiro defeat Santos 3-0 and retake the Brazilian league lead on Sunday.

Mexico: River spill to keep 88 schools closed Posted: 17 Aug 2014 04:46 PM PDT MEXICO CITY (AP) — Eighty-eight schools in a northern Mexico state will not open Monday along with the rest of the country because of the danger of water contaminated by the spill of 10 million gallons (40,000 cubic meters) of acids from a copper mine into two rivers this month.

Israeli wedding of Jew, Muslim draws protesters amid war tensions Posted: 17 Aug 2014 04:45 PM PDT By Allyn Fisher-Ilan RISHON LEZION Israel (Reuters) - Israeli police on Sunday blocked more than 200 far-right Israeli protesters from rushing guests at a wedding of a Jewish woman and Muslim man as they shouted "death to the Arabs" in a sign of tensions stoked by the Gaza war. Several dozen police, including members of the force's most elite units, formed human chains to keep the protesters from the wedding hall's gates and chased after many who defied them. Four protesters were arrested, and there were no injuries. A lawyer for the couple, Maral Malka, 23, and Mahmoud Mansour, 26, both from the Jaffa section of Tel Aviv, had unsuccessfully sought a court order to bar the protest.

Chilean military chief who followed Pinochet dies Posted: 17 Aug 2014 04:44 PM PDT SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Ricardo Izurieta, the general who succeeded dictator Augusto Pinochet as head of Chile's military, died Sunday at age 71.

Yang beats Conners in final of US Amateur Posted: 17 Aug 2014 04:41 PM PDT JOHNS CREEK, Georgia (AP) — South Korea's Gunn Yang has completed his improbable run to the U.S. Amateur title with a 2-and-1 victory over Canada's Corey Conners.

New US strikes in Iraq include land-based bombers Posted: 17 Aug 2014 04:06 PM PDT EDGARTOWN, Massachusetts (AP) — The U.S. has expanded its air campaign in Iraq with attacks aimed at helping Iraqi forces regain control of the strategic Mosul dam.

Germany's Steinmeier says leaders may agree to continue Ukraine crisis talks Posted: 17 Aug 2014 03:57 PM PDT German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Sunday after a meeting with his counterparts from Ukraine, Russia and France that they would report back to leaders in their capitals and possibly agree on Monday or Tuesday how to continue talks. "We will, and that's what's been agreed now, first report to our heads of government and state in our capital cities and then possibly during the course of Tuesday tomorrow, agree how to continue today's discussion," Steinmeier told reporters. "The aim remains to bring about a ceasefire in Ukraine and to prevent future victims," Steinmeier added.

Ukraine says troops entered rebel-held city Posted: 17 Aug 2014 03:52 PM PDT KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Army troops have penetrated deep inside a rebel-controlled city in eastern Ukraine in what could prove a breakthrough development in the four-month-long conflict, the Ukrainian government said Sunday.

'Turtles' outmuscle Stallone, Schwarzenegger at box office Posted: 17 Aug 2014 03:08 PM PDT The "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" remained in top spot at the North American box office this weekend, outmuscling the latest installment of Sylvester Stallone's geriatric "Expendables" action-hero franchise, estimates showed Sunday. Third spot was taken by raunchy adult comedy "Let's Be Cops," starring Damon Wayans Jr, about two friends who become entangled in criminal intrigue when they dress up as police officers for a costume party. The first two films in "The Expendables" series had taken $34.8 million and $28.6 million in their opening weekends, suggesting that interest in the franchise, which groups together a galaxy of action stars including Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Wesley Snipes, Jet Li, Mel Gibson and Harrison Ford, is firmly on the wane.

White House: Obama authorized U.S. strikes on Mosul Dam in Iraq Posted: 17 Aug 2014 03:06 PM PDT The White House on Sunday said President Barack Obama had informed Congress he authorized U.S. air strikes in Iraq to help retake control of the Mosul Dam, and that the action was consistent with his goal of protecting U.S. citizens in that country. "The failure of the Mosul Dam could threaten the lives of large numbers of civilians, threaten U.S. personnel and facilities - including the U.S. embassy in Baghdad - and prevent the Iraqi government from providing critical services to the Iraqi populace," the White House said in a statement. "These operations are limited in their nature, duration, and scope and are being undertaken in coordination with and at the request of the government of Iraq." The Mosul Dam fell under the control of Islamic State militants earlier this month.

Mao's archenemy Chiang Kai-shek part of mainstream Posted: 17 Aug 2014 02:58 PM PDT BEIJING (AP) — Photos of Mao's archenemy Chiang Kai-shek adorn the walls of a Beijing restaurant, and his face looks up at diners from the menu. Online, the deposed Chinese leader's image is used to sell the kinds of lamps and swords he might have used. A liquor brand has patterned its bottle on Chiang's memorial in Taipei.

Bordeaux beats Monaco 4-1 in French league Posted: 17 Aug 2014 02:49 PM PDT PARIS (AP) — Monaco's poor start to the season continued on Sunday as it lost 4-1 at Bordeaux for its second straight defeat in the French league.

Fresh violence in riot-hit US town, new autopsy ordered Posted: 17 Aug 2014 02:35 PM PDT The trooper put in charge of tamping swirling racial tensions in this St Louis suburb vowed Sunday to stay "as long as it takes," after one person was shot and seven arrested in fresh violence. Captain Ron Johnson also apologized for a white police officer's shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown, which caused long-simmering tensions to spill over for more than a week since his death in Ferguson, home to a black majority. The US Justice Department announced that a federal medical examiner would carry out a second autopsy on Brown's body, citing the case's "extraordinary circumstances." A first one has already been performed. "I want to start off by talking to Mike Brown's family.

Clashes between Madagascar police, cattle rustlers kill 15 Posted: 17 Aug 2014 02:25 PM PDT Clashes between armed bands of cattle rustlers and security forces have left 15 people dead in Madagascar including two paramilitary policemen, officials said Sunday. The village tradition of young Malagasy men stealing prized humped zebu cattle to prove their virility and valour took a bloody turn after two separate incidents in the south-east of the island nation. Known as dahalos, about 80 of these men, armed with hunting rifles, took off with 150 zebu in the village of Tranomaro early Sunday morning, said paramilitary police general Lumene Fidele Rasolofo. Then in another village called Mahaly, a second theft of 300 zebu led to a clash between nearly 100 armed men and six paramilitary police officers, two of whom were killed.

Women bearing aid desperate to enter Ukraine as thousands flee Posted: 17 Aug 2014 02:24 PM PDT Heads resting on their bags as they wait in stifling heat in their van, 11 women sit stranded at the Ukrainian border as a dispute over a mammoth Russian aid convoy blocks their mission to reach relatives stuck inside besieged Lugansk. The Ukrainian women -- a mixture of long-term residents in Russia and recent arrivals -- pulled up days ago to the border, racing to rebel-held Lugansk where their relatives were trying to stay alive as the Ukrainian army shelled the surrounded city. After leaving Moscow on Wednesday evening, the women were due to arrive on Thursday night in Lugansk, a city that had a population of around 500,000 before the fighting began. The rebels stopped our car, and once they saw we were only women civilians, they forced us to return to Russia because the area was too dangerous," said Olga.

Leading Scottish historian backs independence campaign Posted: 17 Aug 2014 02:21 PM PDT Prominent Scottish historian Tom Devine backed independence on Sunday in a boost to the Yes campaign a month from the referendum. The academic, considered a leading authority on modern Scottish history, told an interview with the Observer newspaper that he had originally planned to vote No. Devine, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth earlier this year in recognition of his services to the study of Scottish history, said he intially favoured an independence alternative known as "devolution max". Currently, Holyrood can set education, health, environmental and justice policy, but the proposed "devolution max" alternative to independence would see all Scottish taxes collected by the Scottish parliament.

Bayern gets German Cup defense off to good start Posted: 17 Aug 2014 02:20 PM PDT BERLIN (AP) — Bayern Munich opened its German Cup defense with a 4-1 win at third-division side Preussen Muenster on Sunday.

Israel warns on security as Gaza truce talks resume Posted: 17 Aug 2014 02:09 PM PDT Israel warned Sunday it would refuse any long-term truce deal that failed to satisfy its security needs as Gaza ceasefire talks resumed in Cairo. Egyptian-brokered indirect negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians are taking place during a five-day lull in the fighting that is due to expire at midnight (2100 GMT) on Monday. The aim is to broker a long-term arrangement to halt over a month of bloody fighting which erupted on July 8 and has so far claimed 1,980 Palestinians lives and 67 on the Israeli side. "The Israeli delegation in Cairo is acting with a very clear mandate to stand firmly on Israel's security needs," said Netanyahu.

Mexican billionaire offers advice for Latinos Posted: 17 Aug 2014 02:03 PM PDT HOUSTON (AP) — Increasing workers' earning power and offering Latino-owned companies easier access to funding that can be used for growth and expansion can help improve the social and economic status of Latinos in the U.S. and throughout Latin America, Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim told a group of religious and community leaders Sunday.

Infected Ebola patients flee after attack on Liberia clinic Posted: 17 Aug 2014 01:22 PM PDT Seventeen Ebola patients in Liberia who fled from a guarantine centre after it was attacked by club-wielding youths were missing on Sunday, striking a fresh blow to efforts to contain the deadly virus. The attack on the Monrovia centre late Saturday highlighted the challenge faced by health authorities battling the epidemic that has killed 1,145 people since it erupted in west Africa early this year, spreading panic among local populations. The attackers, mostly young men armed with clubs, shouted insults about President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and yelled "there's no Ebola," she said, adding that nurses had also fled the centre. A health ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the youths took away medicines, mattresses and bedding from the high school which had been turned into an isolation centre to deal with the rapidly spreading virus.

13 children among Afghan Sikhs found in UK shipping container Posted: 17 Aug 2014 01:11 PM PDT The frail survivors found inside a shipping container at a British port at the weekend following a "horrific ordeal" are Sikhs from Afghanistan and include 13 children, police said Sunday. Staff at Tilbury Docks east of London on Saturday discovered one dead man and 34 others alive after hearing banging and screaming coming from the container. The container had arrived by truck at Zeebrugge seaport in Belgium around 12 hours before the people inside were discovered at Tilbury, having crossed the North Sea on a ferry. "Now they are well enough, our officers and colleagues from the Border Force will be speaking to them via interpreters so we can piece together what happened and how they came to be in the container.

5 things about the Champions League playoffs Posted: 17 Aug 2014 01:04 PM PDT MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Prestige and a cash bonanza for reaching the Champions League group stage awaits 10 teams as the qualifying phase for Europe's top competition reaches its climax over the next two weeks.

Rebels caught in north Syria two-pronged onslaught Posted: 17 Aug 2014 01:03 PM PDT Western-backed rebels in northern Syria are fighting to survive in the face of advances on their strongholds both by jihadists and government forces, analysts and regime opponents say. The opposition has sounded the alarm, appealing indirectly to the international community to carry out air strikes on jihadist Islamic State (IS) positions in Syria, like the United States has done in Iraq. The IS jihadists, who have spread terror in Syria and seized vast swathes of land in Iraq, launched a lightning offensive Wednesday in northern Aleppo province, until now the centre of rebel strength, in order to cut off the rebels' supply route from adjoining Turkey. The jihadists, who punish their enemies with beheadings, crucifixions and stonings, on Saturday vowed their "determination to free the northern province (Aleppo) and chase out the rebels."

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